FR2539867A1 - APPARATUS FOR INDICATING TOPOGRAPHIC DATA RECORDED ON FILM AND ITS USE FOR AIR NAVIGATION - Google Patents

Abstract

DEVICE ALLOWING TO VIEW DIFFERENT ALTITUDES OF A TERRAIN ON A CATHODIC INDICATOR33 ACCORDING TO A DETERMINED ROUTE, FROM TOPOGRAPHICAL DATA RECORDED ON A FILM1. THE DEVICE INCLUDES A VIDEO PLAYER10 ANALYZING THE FILM1 AND DELIVERING VIDEO SIGNALS, A SIGNAL PROCESSING CIRCUIT20, A DISPLAY DEVICE30 AND A CONTROL CIRCUIT15. THE TOPOGRAPHICAL DATA CONSTITUTE AN ALTITUDE SURVEY WHICH IS RECORDED ON THE FILM1 IN THE FORM OF A PLURALITY OF COLORS CORRESPONDING TO DIFFERENT ALTITUDE RANGES. AFTER READING ON THE FILM OF THE COLORS OF THE POINTS OF A DETERMINED COURSE, EACH OF THEM CORRESPONDED TO THE CORRESPONDING ALTITUDE WHICH IS THEN VISUALIZED ON THE CATHODIC INDICATOR33. THEREFORE YOU GET A CUT OF THE FIELD.

Description

TOPOGRAPHIC DATA INDICATING APPARATUS

  RECORDED ON FILM AND ITS USE

FOR AIR NAVIGATION

  The invention relates to a topographic data indicator device

  graphics recorded on a photographic film, which are read and visualized on a cathodic indicator Its use is more

  particularly considered for air navigation.

  The cartographic indicators present the image of a geographical map to the pilots of certain vehicles, in particular in the aeronautical field.

  geographical map previously recorded on an opti-

  that, magnetic or otherwise, analyzed by a reading to select

  the useful map area to be visualized and translate it into

  video signals suitable for visualization on a catheter

  The visualized area scrolls in correspondence with the flight and its positioning is controlled by the longitude and latitude of the aircraft and possibly the heading In addition to the geographical map, the device

  1 S of navigation is generally arranged to visualize joint

  markers and symbols to indicate the figurative point of

  the aircraft as well as navigation information (speed,

  fuel consumption, route, etc.) These indicators

  cartography are therefore mainly used to present pilots

  the geographical map of the area flown over, but

  present by altitude information.

  It is known to represent the relief on geographical maps.

  usually using contour lines or a family of degraded shades that each correspond to a specific slice of altitude The colors between yellow and brown are often used to represent

  increasing the successive slices of positive altitudes.

  These types of charts would not allow the pilot to accurately assess the altitude of the points overflown, the number of different altitude ranges often being such that each of them covers

several hundred meters.

  The aim of the invention is to process a precise survey of altitude of a given territory to display in a fine way the altitude of any series of points of an area of this territory. These points constitute, as a example the route of an aircraft equipped with the aircraft. French patent document FR-A-2 499 743 discloses

  a cartographic indicator allowing the visualization of the

  This device contains the card stored on an optical or magnetic medium, using two color components or the single luminance component. In this preferred mode, the medium is a black and white film whose recorded densities correspond to the different The unique sensor is a black and white TV camera associated with a light source, or a photomultiplier associated with a mobile spot analyzer tube commonly called, according to the corresponding English-language spot The detected video channel is transmitted after digital analog conversion in a read-only memory programmed for the identification of the

  color and the reproduction of the conventional chromatic

  red, green and blue color display according to a

  predetermined correspondence table.

  A particularity of the invention is to use as an information medium a photographic film on which the precise altitude survey is recorded, this film being coded according to a large number of distinct hues so as to cover with a desired precision the

total altitude range envisaged.

  According to another particularity of the invention, a video signal processing circuit derived from the reading of the film delivers by

  a single video channel the decoded information, thus allowing us to use

  to read a simple black and white cathode ray tube to visualize the fine variations of the altitude that present the various points

successively analyzed.

  The object of the invention is to provide an indicator of topographic data recorded on a photographic film according to a predetermined color coding, these data corresponding to a

  determined survey This apparatus comprises a device for

  lysis says video player selecting on the movie the part to be viewed

  and delivering corresponding video signals, a processing circuit

  to decode these signals point-by-point and in real time by performing hue identification and data restitution according to a predetermined correspondence table, and

  cathode ray tube display device for decoded signals.

  According to the invention, the recording of the film is an altitude survey coded according to a plurality of hues in order to cover a total range of altitude with a desired accuracy, and the processing circuit delivers by a single video channel the information decoded in such a way

  represent the altitude variations of the successive points analyzed.

  The features and advantages of the invention will appear

  in the description which follows, given by way of non-limiting example and

  illustrated by the appended figures which represent: FIG. 1, a diagram of a first embodiment of an indicating apparatus according to the invention, using a color film;

  FIG. 2, a diagram according to a second embodiment of

  an indicator device according to the invention, using a black and white film; Figure 3 is a diagram of a color film recording device used in an apparatus according to Figure 1; Figure 4, a partial diagram of an alternative embodiment of an indicating apparatus according to the invention; FIG. 5, a diagram relating to the calculation of display parameters in the context of the embodiment according to the variant of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is an example of visualization of contour lines in the context of the variant according to FIGS. 4 and 5. With reference to FIG. 1, the indicator device illustrated corresponds to a preferred embodiment because it makes use of

  a photographic film 1 in color to support recording

  topographic data, which allows us to store a

  high number of values more easily than on a black and white film.

  These data consist of a precise altitude survey of a territory. The indicator apparatus comprises a video player 10, a control circuit 15, a processing circuit 20 and a device

visualization 30.

  The video player 10 essentially comprises, in order to analyze the color film 1, a mobile spot analysis tube 2 and its circuits

  The video player also includes

  a trichromatic separator 5, breaking down the beam 3 into three respectively green, blue and red beams on which are placed three photodetectors 6 V, 6 B, 6 R, each delivering a video signal SV, SB, SR. the connection of a regulation loop 8 of the intensity of the light source constituted by the spot of the analysis tube 2 A circuit

  servo-control 9 allows the vertical positioning of the film 1.

  The processing circuit 20 receives the three video signals SV,

  SB, SR which are applied to the input of three analog converters

  21 V, 21 B, 21 R The digital outputs of these converters are connected to the input of a programmed read-only memory 22 or PROM memory, which thus receives a binary word to which it corresponds, according to a table. of decoding, the digital altitude value of the analyzed point The output of the memory 22 is connected to a single digital-to-analog converter 23 delivering the video signal which is intended for

visualization.

Z 539867

  The display device 30 comprises a cathode tube

  dique 33 black and white; deflection of the spot is controlled by a

  horizontal scanning circuit 32 and a vertical scanning circuit

  The video output Z of the processing circuit 20 feeds the vertical scanning circuit 31 to produce the vertical deflection voltage of the spot applied to the corresponding coil.

  31 A, or to an electromagnetic deflection plate.

  The control circuit 15 elaborates the various control and synchronization signals necessary for the operation of the assembly. These signals comprise scanning signals SB applied to the scanning circuit 4 of the analysis tube 2 in order to produce a "jumper" type scan. , SP signal or point-by-point synchronization of analyzed values, a synchronization signal

  SI image to control, on the one hand the switch 7 and

  periodically to the image period or a multiple period the video outputs to the control loop 8, and secondly the horizontal scanning circuit 32 of the display tube 33 and SF signals

  positioning control of the film.

  To facilitate the understanding of the functioning of the

  reil, the recording of the film is now described The territory concerned by the survey has been divided, for example according to a longitude-latitude grid, in order to define zones corresponding each one to an image, each zone being itself subdivided into surfaces elementary of limited dimensions For each of them an altitude has been noted, in this case the average altitude The total range covered by all the altitudes of the territory is then divided into elementary slices; for example, we can choose an interval of ten meters to define an elementary slice. Referring to FIG. 3, the altitude values measured and converted into digital at each of the slices are introduced with appropriate addressing in a mass memory 40. A corresponding color is matched according to the correspondence table used by the slice. This memory produces a coding function inverse to that of decoding the memory 220. Each color is defined.

  a percentage of blue, a percentage of green and a percentage of

  In relation to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, eight levels of green, eight levels of blue and four levels of red can be used in the recording. Two hundred and fifty six distinct colors are available.

  symbolize as many different altitudes, and allow

  A difference in elevation of two thousand five hundred and sixty meters for the ten-meter increment is considered. Each of the three video output channels of the read-only memory 41 supplies an analogue digital converter 42 V, 42 B, 42 R respectively for controlling a cathode ray tube. color 43 for printing the film 1 through an image transport optics 46 A control device 44 which can consist of a microprocessor, a keyboard and a display console synchronizes these different elements as well as a horizontal scanning circuit 45 sweeping

  point by point of the tube 43 The colors corresponding to

  At the end of the recording of a line, the device 44 also controls the vertical unwinding of the film 1 for

  move to the next line of the considered image.

  A black and white monochrome film can therefore be used, a single luminance component being used to modify the density of the film. In this concept, the programmed read-only memory 41 comprises only one output video channel, there is only one a single numerical digital converter and the corresponding video channel

  is applied to a monochrome CRT.

  The operation of the indicating apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 is as follows. The servo-control circuit 9 regulating the vertical positioning of the film 1 is controlled by the control circuit 15 to select the image of the film to be exposed to the beam 3 of the tube. The control circuit 15 comprises a processor, such as a microprocessor, which generates the control and synchronization signals. These signals SB are applied to the scanning circuit at 4 to deflect the beam along the

course to analyze.

  The scanning means 15 and 4 produce a jumper sweep; the beam 3 is scanned according to a sequence of elementary vectors along the path, or successive paths to be analyzed. Each scan is considered to have a finite number N of elementary vectors. The scanning time of an elementary vector corresponds to the period TP of the synchronization signal point SP The duration of the scan is therefore given by the value TH equal to N times TP This scan is reproduced at the period II of image = TH + TS, the duration TS of suppression can be used to switch the circuit 7 and cause the regulation by the circuit 8, or to produce a symbol display using a non-figured symbol generator It must be considered that the regulation does not need to be connected systematically during

  each delete TS interval.

  The optic preceding the film 1 produces a light spot image transport at the film 1 The light of the light beam 3 is modified by the transparency and the color of the analyzed point of the film 1, and is taken up by another optics for be

  transmitted to the trichrome separator 5 which selects the three components

  bright green, blue and red The three photo-

  detectors 9 V, 9 B, 9 R can be photomultipliers The triple switch 7 and the regulation loop 8 make it possible to act on the power supply at 4, so that the light intensity of the

  beam 3 remains substantially constant In the processing circuit

  the three signals SV, SB, SR are converted numerically

  In the example, this conversion results in three bits for green, three bits for blue and two bits for red. An eight-bit word thus formed identifies the color of the point read and is inserted into the ROM 22 where it is replaced by the numerical value of the corresponding altitude of the analyzed point at the instant considered. This value is converted into

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  analog size Z by the single digital converter-

  The signal Z is applied to the vertical scanning circuit 31 which may comprise a variable gain amplifier for

  adapt the vertical deflection to the desired scale.

  The horizontal scanning circuit 32 synchronized by the signal SI is equipped with a sawtooth voltage generator circuit 34 (FIG. 4). This generator can be followed by an adjustable gain amplifier 35 to adjust the same to the scale. desired amplitude

  vertical scanning To view symbols during inter-

  In this case, the scanning circuits 31 and 32 must receive corresponding signals from the circuit 15, which in particular causes a switching circuit on the link Z going to

circuit 31.

  Figure 2 shows an embodiment for which the film 1 is monochrome, black and white; the altitudes are stored according to different levels of gray that are predetermined in relation to the different altitude slices to be translated Each

  altitude slice Zi is assigned a density value D D determines

  The reading device comprises a fixed luminous point source 12 with its feed 11, optical elements for the film, that is to say at a certain level of gray in a range, preferably ranging from black to white. collimate the source and to carry the image of the illuminated area at the level of the photodetection and analysis means 14 sensitive only to the intensity of the

  These means are controlled by the communication circuit.

  mande 15 and can consist of a simple black TV camera and

  white A simple switch 17 allows a stability loop

  The video signal SV of the reading device 10 is then processed in a processing circuit 20 which differs from that used in the previous version only in the fact that the video signal SV of the reading device 10 is then processed in a processing circuit 20 which differs from that used in the previous version only in the fact that a single analog-to-digital converter 21 is required at the input for

  supply the programmed read-only memory 22 All other elemen-

  figures in this figure are identical to those used in the

  embodiment of Figure 1 and have the same references.

  According to an alternative embodiment, the control circuit 15 controls the scanning of the analysis beam several distinct paths on the film This makes it possible to simultaneously display several cuts of terrain on the screen of the tube 33 These different analysis runs may be locate in perpendicular planes

  to the direction of the aircraft and be further and further away from that

  The visualization of these courses is obtained by shifting these sections of land with respect to each other along the vertical axis of the tube 33. This visualization can produce an impression of

  perspective of the terrain in front of the aircraft.

  With reference to FIG. 4 this variant uses an analog summator 60 receiving by a first input the output Z of the processing circuits 20, and by a second input an offset signal A Z coming from the control circuit 15.

  offset of cuts, proportional to the distance separating

  besides each other on the film can be determined by prior programming in 15 to obtain a determined shift law. To improve the comfort of the vision, to increase the realism of the image by reinforcing the impression of perspective and the notion of relief of the ground one will be able to determine the offsets of the cuts of the

  following manner with reference to Figures 5 and 6.

  The curves perpendicular to the direction x of the aircraft are at respective distances d1, d2, d3, d4 from the vertical point A

  representing the position of the aircraft These different sections defined

  feel increasing angles with distance d.

  By elaborating a signal of the form AZ = Kx Arc tg d where d is the distance from the cutting plane, the visualization obtained is similar to the panorama seen from point A. In the above expression K is a constant. be easily developed by computing means 61 forming part of the control circuit In the case of an airborne equipment it will be an on-board computer This signal is converted into analog by a circuit of

  digital-to-analog conversion 62 Block 63 represents a vertical

  meter measuring the instantaneous altitude ZA of the aircraft, this data

being provided to the calculator 61.

  Figure 6 shows different curves Cj, Cj + l and the decays

  Successive vertical courses A Zj, A Zj + 1, For the development of a jumper sweep can be referred to the French patent FR-A-2 218 646; for the problem of regulation

  luminance can be referred to the French patent FR-A-2 499 743.

Claims (9)

  1 Apparatus for recording data recorded on a film   according to a predetermined color coding, these data   corresponding to a determined survey, comprising an analysis device said video player to select on the film the useful part to view and deliver the corresponding video signals, a processing circuit for decoding these signals point by point and in real time by proceeding by an identification of the hue and a restitution of data according to a determined correspondence table and a cathode-tube display device of the decoded signals, control means for developing different   synchronization and control signals, the apparatus being   characterized in that the recording of the film (1) is an altitude survey coded according to a plurality of tints in order to cover a total range   of altitude with a desired accuracy, and that the processing circuit   (20) delivers by a single video channel the decoded information   in order to represent the altitude variations of the points analyzed.   2 indicating apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the processing circuits (20) comprise successively means of analog-to-digital conversion of the detected analog signals, decoding means for identifying the hue in   each point and make it correspond to the corresponding numerical value.   according to a table of correspondence opposite to that used   the recording of the film, and the means of digital conversion-   analogue of said digital values, characterized in that the analog signals forming said output video channel represent said altitude variations and are used to form a first deflection signal for the deflection of the beam of the tube cathode display (33).   Indicator apparatus according to any of the claims   previous cations, characterized in that the cathode ray tube (33) for viewing is a monochrome tube and the decoding means are constituted by a read-only memory (22) programmed to form an altitude correspondence table.   4 Apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized   characterized in that the different altitudes are recorded on a color photographic film (1) in the form of a plurality of colors corresponding to different altitude slices to be displayed, the video player (10) delivering three signals, each on a video channel   different corresponding to the three chromatic components.   Indicating apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the different altitudes are recorded on the photographic film (2) which is monochrome black and white under the   a plurality of gray densities corresponding to the different   altitude slices to be viewed, the video player (10) delivering   a single signal on a single video channel.   Indicator apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, characterized   characterized in that it comprises scanning means for analyzing the film (1) using a jumper sweep along at least one envisaged analysis path and for synchronously visualizing the variation   corresponding altitude on the screen of the viewing tube (33).   Indicator apparatus according to claim 2 and any one   of claims 3, 4, 5 or 6, characterized in that the   control means comprises a signal generator circuit comprising a jumper sweep control signal (SB), film positioning control signals (SF) (1), a point-to-point synchronization signal (SP) for controlling the processing circuit (20) and an image synchronizing signal (Si) for forming a second deflection signal of the cathode ray tube (33) of the display device (30) and synchronizing the scanning of that tube   with that of the analysis device (10).   Indicating apparatus according to any of the claims   cations, characterized in that it comprises an analog summator (60) whose first input is connected to the output of the processing circuit (20) to receive the altitude signal (Z) and a second input is connected to a output of the control circuit (15) for receiving an offset signal (AZ), the control circuit (15) including means (61) for calculating said shift signal, the output of the summator being connected to said display device (30); ) for producing said first deflection signal (Z + AZ) for shifting the various level curves (Cj, Cj + 1 l,) constituted by the altitude variations displayed on the screen of the cathode ray tube (33) along several paths of analysis on   the film (1) corresponding to different cutting planes.   9 Apparatus according to any of the claims   1, 2, 3, 4, 7, or 8, characterized in that the photo-film   graph 1 is recorded by means of a read-only memory   grammage (41) receiving the successive altitude values of a mass memory (40) to match each of them with a color code according to the correspondence table, the coded outputs being converted to produce three color video signals, d a color cathode ray tube (43) and associated optics (46) for recording from the color video signals, the deflection of the beam being controlled horizontally and the film (1) moved   vertically at the end of each line scan.   Apparatus according to claim 8 for displaying contour lines in an aircraft navigation indicator system, characterized in that an altimeter (63) provides the instantaneous altitude (ZA) to said calculating means (61) which produce said shift signal (AZ) in the form: K x Arc tg do K is a constant and od represents in each case the actual distance of a   cutting plane, the vertical of the position of the aircraft.